Controlled parking zones

A controlled parking zone, often referred to as a CPZ, is an area where the council have introduced restrictions on parking during certain times. These restrictions only apply to public roads. Other restrictions apply to private land and streets such as council estates.

When you enter a controlled parking zone you will see a CPZ entry sign. These signs are erected at all entry points to that zone. The sign tells you the days and the hours that the restrictions apply to.

Pay and display machines will also tell you the restricted hours for the zone you are in. Signs displaying the restricted hours and the Mini-Zone identification code are also erected on all bays throughout the borough

Parking maps

You can see the controlled parking zones in our online map viewer. The map also shows where you can park:

• Disabled parking bays
• Pay & display parking bays
• Resident's permit bays
• Business permits bays
• Motorcycle bays

Where are the controlled parking zones?

The borough currently has four main controlled parking zones (with mini zones within these), covering most streets in Tower Hamlets:

• Zone A: Bethnal Green area, there are six mini-zones within zone A
• Zone B: Bow and Poplar area, there are three mini-zones within zone B
• Zone C: Stepney and Wapping area, there are four mini-zones within zone C
• Zone D: Isle of Dogs area, there are two mini-zones within zone D

To find your nearest bay you can:

• View these zones on our online map viewer 
• Download a map of the borough showing these zones (PDF 228k).

Parking restriction times

Mini-zones A1 and A2

Restrictions apply between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am and 2.00pm on Sunday.

Mini-zones A3, B1, B4 and the Chrisp Street area of B3

Restrictions apply between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.

Mini-zone A5 

Restrictions apply between 8.30am and 7.00pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am and 2.00pm on Sunday.

Mini-zone A6

Restrictions apply between 8.30am and 10.00pm Monday to Sunday in RESIDENT permit holders parking bays only in streets to the West of Brick Lane, otherwise, restrictions apply between 8.30am and 7.00pm Monday to Friday and 08:30am and 2pm on Sunday

Mini-zones A4, B2, B3 (Excluding Chrisp Street area), C1, C2, C3, C4, D1 and D2

Restrictions apply between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Parking with a permit

A permit holder can park within their main zone for an unlimited period. For example an A1 permit holder can park without time limit in A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, or A6.

A permit holder can park for up to three hours in any other zone. For example an A1 permit holder can park for up to three hours in B1.

Where to park during the controlled hours

When you are in the controlled parking zone, you will see and a range of bays marked out on the road with white lines, with signs erected to indicate who may park in these bays..

During the controlled hours, you can only park in a bay if your vehicle meets the criteria specified on these signs. Please note that on public holidays the controls on parking bays do not apply.

We have different types of bays to reflect different types of parking users:

• resident permit bay
• permit holders bay
• business permit bay
• permit and pay and display bay
• personalised disabled bay
• car club bays
• Suspension signs
• Doctors bay

Make sure that when you park your vehicle:

• you are allowed to park in the bay you have chosen
• you have the relevant permit, visitor scratch-card or pay and display ticket, appropriate to that bay
• your permit, etc is clearly on display so that all the details can be seen
• your permit, etc is valid – for example, make sure the permit has not expire
• your vehicle is parked with all the wheels within the white lines

Where to park outside controlled hours

Bays

When the controlled parking zone hours do not apply, you can park your vehicle in any bay, except the car club bays, disabled bays and doctor bays

Single yellow lines

You can park on a single yellow line in a controlled parking zone outside of the restricted hours, or the hours stated on any supplementary plates.